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Politics might seem far removed from holidays and travel, but political decisions and environments have enormous impacts on where people can go, how they travel and whether they choose to visit certain destinations. In this session, we'll explore how the decisions made by governments and the political climate of countries directly shape tourism patterns around the world.
Key Definitions:
Politics affects tourism in ways you might not immediately realise. Governments decide whether to build airports, how much tax to charge on flights and whether to require visas from visitors. These decisions can make destinations more appealing or completely off-limits to tourists. Even relationships between countries can determine tourism flows - when two nations are friendly, their citizens are more likely to visit each other.
Governments typically follow a cycle when developing tourism policies: they identify issues, formulate policies, implement them and then evaluate their effectiveness. For example, a government might notice declining visitor numbers, create a new marketing campaign and visa policy, implement these changes and then measure the resulting impact on tourism arrivals.
Governments use various policy tools to influence tourism development. These range from direct intervention to more subtle incentives and regulations.
Visa requirements can significantly impact tourism flows. Countries with strict visa policies often receive fewer tourists, while visa-free arrangements boost visitor numbers. For example, when the UK requires visas from citizens of certain countries, it creates a barrier that may discourage visits.
Taxes on flights, hotel stays and tourist activities directly affect the cost of travel. The UK's Air Passenger Duty (APD) is one of the highest aviation taxes in the world, potentially making the UK a more expensive destination compared to countries with lower travel taxes.
Government spending on airports, roads and public transport can dramatically improve a destination's accessibility and appeal. China's massive investment in high-speed rail has opened up previously remote areas to domestic and international tourism.
Few factors influence tourism demand as dramatically as political stability. Tourists generally avoid destinations they perceive as unsafe or unpredictable, regardless of their natural beauty or cultural attractions.
Political unrest, protests, terrorism and conflict can devastate a destination's tourism industry almost overnight. Media coverage of these events often amplifies their impact, creating negative perceptions that can last for years. Recovery from political instability typically takes much longer than recovery from natural disasters.
Most governments issue travel advisories warning their citizens about potential risks in other countries. These official warnings can significantly impact tourism flows. For example, if the UK Foreign Office advises against travel to a particular country, tour operators typically cancel their packages and travel insurance for that destination may become invalid.
Egypt demonstrates how political events can dramatically affect tourism. Before the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, Egypt welcomed around 14 million tourists annually. Following the political unrest, tourist arrivals plummeted to just 5.4 million by 2016 – a 62% decrease. Historic sites that once bustled with visitors stood nearly empty and thousands of tourism workers lost their jobs.
The Egyptian government responded with several strategies:
By 2019, tourism had begun to recover, with numbers reaching 13 million before the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges. This case illustrates how political stability is fundamental to tourism success and how recovery requires coordinated government action.
The diplomatic relationships between countries directly influence tourism flows. Friendly relations typically lead to easier travel between nations, while tensions can restrict or prevent tourism entirely.
International politics creates both opportunities and barriers for tourism:
Bilateral agreements between countries can facilitate tourism through visa waivers, direct flights and cultural exchange programmes. The EU's Schengen Agreement allows tourists to visit 26 European countries with a single visa, significantly boosting intra-European tourism.
Political sanctions can severely limit tourism between countries. For decades, US citizens were prohibited from visiting Cuba as tourists due to political tensions. Similarly, North Korea remains largely closed to Western tourists due to international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
Countries often use tourism as a tool of economic diplomacy. China's "approved destination status" policy controls which countries Chinese tour groups can visit, making it a powerful diplomatic lever in international relations.
The UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit) demonstrates how political decisions can create complex impacts on tourism. Since Brexit took full effect in January 2021, several changes have affected tourism:
These changes illustrate how a major political decision can create ripple effects throughout the tourism industry, affecting everything from border procedures to employment patterns.
Most governments actively promote tourism through dedicated organisations and marketing campaigns. These efforts represent a direct political investment in tourism development.
Government-funded bodies like VisitBritain work to attract international visitors through marketing, research and industry support. Their budgets and priorities reflect government policies toward tourism. For example, VisitBritain's "GREAT" campaign received significant funding to promote the UK following the 2012 London Olympics, showing how governments strategically invest in tourism promotion.
Many governments use tourism to enhance their country's image abroad – a concept known as "soft power." By attracting visitors who have positive experiences, countries can improve their international reputation. South Korea has effectively used K-pop, Korean cuisine and historical sites to boost its global image and attract tourists, demonstrating how cultural promotion can serve political goals.
Political factors create the framework within which tourism operates. From visa policies to diplomatic relations, government decisions shape who can travel where and under what conditions. For tourism professionals, understanding these political dimensions is essential for predicting trends, managing risks and identifying opportunities in the global tourism market.
As you continue your studies, remember that tourism doesn't exist in isolation – it's deeply connected to broader political, economic and social systems. The most successful tourism strategies acknowledge these connections and adapt to the ever-changing political landscape.